FC Volendam vs Maastricht Predictions

Volendam extended their unbeaten run to six with a 1-2 victory at second bottom Dordrecht last week, and Palingboeren will have their sights set on the top half of the table this Friday when they entertain an MVV side who’ve won just one of their last six Eerste Divisie outings. It won’t be a straightforward task though for the hosts, as MVV have yet to taste defeat on the road this season.

Volendam may still be only 14^th in the Eerste Divisie standings, but they’ve come a long way in the last few weeks since Hans De Koning stepped into replace the outgoing Misha Salden.

Palingboeren are unbeaten in their last six matches, winning half of those, and currently rank 4^th in the second tier form table.

Their 1-2 win at Dordrecht on match day 12 courtesy of a brace from Cas Peters took them to within two points of 10^th placed Jong Ajax, and a victory over MVV this week could put them on the brink of the top half depending on how other results go.

12^th placed MVV are one of the sides Volendam are seeking to overhaul, and De Koning’s side will indeed leapfrog Ron Elsen’s men if they’re successful at Kras Stadion.

They’ll definitely fancy their chances of landing all three points based here after winning their last two league fixtures at home (3-1 vs Jong Ajax, 1-0 vs RKC), but MVV have proven so far this term that they’re a tough nut to crack away from home.

The Maastricht outfit have won three and drawn three from six on their travels, and their sole success from their last six league games came via a fantastic 0-1 triumph at 3^rd placed Twente on match day nine.

Elsen will be frustrated that his team are unable to replicate such form at De Geusselt where they’ve lost four of their six home games, although last week’s 0-2 defeat to leaders Sparta Rotterdam can largely be forgiven considering the sheer quality and consistency of Henk Fraser’s team who re unbeaten in 12.

MVV will still have eyes on a Play-off spot this season which would become a more realistic target should their home performances pick up, but further joy on the road this week should at least lift them into the top half ahead of their clash with Roda JC in Maastricht next week.

MVV’s solid away record makes them difficult to oppose here, but a 1-1 draw at 18^th placed Helmond Sport (who are winless in 20 games) when last on their travels tempers enthusiasm in terms of backing them for the win. Additionally, Volendam’s recent unbeaten streak has to be respected and the odds-on about MVV in the double chance market rates poor value.

So we’re instead going for under 2.5 goals in this encounter, which appeals as a tidy wager at odds-against. The majority of MVV’s away fixtures this term have been cagey affairs with five out of the six featuring less than 2.5 goals, with MVV keeping clean sheets in four of those games. Half of Volendam’s matches at Kras Stadion have also featured less than 2.5 goals, so there’s plenty to indicate that a low scoring affair could be on the cards.

This isn’t necessarily a game to whet the appetite amongst a full roster of Eerste Divisie fixtures this Friday, and with the teams seemingly very closely matched, we’re also chancing a 0-0 score line which has a squeak based on the fact both teams have failed to score in 33% of their games this term.